The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-31
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UNION AND THE EMIGRATION
AGENT.
The Emigration Fiend and the Caro-
lima Farmer.
thtoh Cor. Nears ard Courier.

tnion Cor. Ners and Courier.
UNION, March 22.-In your issue
Of March 20 you publish a dispatch
from your Spartanburg correspond.
ent in relation to the exodus here,
which is incorrect in some particu.
lars. Your correspondent saws:
Union was excited to day on &C.
count of an apparent exodus of hands
under contract to work for the year.
II there was any excitement on the
part of our people We are not aware
OF it, and we have a right to know,
for we mingled with the people who
were congregated to see tie exodus,
and there was not the slightest ex-~
cltement; and besides, there was no
''apparent exodus" it was real, and
about thirty souls left for the West.
Again, your correspondent further
says: at. C. Sturgis, an emisrant
agent, went down this morning after
the crowd Of negroes, but seeing an
excited crowd of citizens about the
depot, and learning that they were
anxious to get hold of him, he wisely
went on until he met the up-train."
AS to the "excited crowd of citizens
about the depot Il X anxious to
get hold Of him." it is only necessary
to say that there was no excitement
while the agent was here, nor did our
citizens seem anxious to get hold of
him. It is true that Some gentlemen
wanted to talk to him and requested
Linn to desist in his robbery. as it
we're, but as to being anxious to get
hold Of him, I Lave stated the cir.
cumstances. In my letter of Satur.
day said that ''it is said that the
agents who carry off the emigrants
will be 'slicked' if they do not desist
in their nefarious business" and such
will be the case if I am not badly
mistaken.
In regard to tbis exodus 7 wish to
say something which will probably
show in some way how our farmers
suffer, and how they are justly exas.
perated at the work of the emigrant
agents. These agents come among
the working or better class of our
colored people and circulate hand
bills, telling about the happy land in
the far West, and which resembles
greatly the circulars sent out just be-
fore the exodus to Liberia several
years ago. AS matter of self-bet.
tcrment our colored people, ~ho are
sometimes q little dissatisfied, grasp
tue new idea of going to the West
and are oyer-anxious to accept the
free passes given them by these
agents. Colored people who have
contracted and have been contracted
with for the current year slip away
from their landlords, accept the pass
es gladly and 60 to the far West.
Consequently many of our farmers
are heavy losers, and consequently
are tired of the agents enticing their
farm hands away.
An instance which happened last
week fits many of the cases caused
by the exodus. A farmer made q
contract for large amount of money
with a merchant who was to supply
him during the year 1887 with his
food and raiment and other necessa.
ries of life. The farmer then con-
tracted with three hands to work for
him during the year, and he was to
furnish them their supplies. Under
the influence Of one of these agents
the three laborers picked up their
goods and left, thereby leaving be-
hind them no work done, bat board
and clothes for three months ad.
vanced. Jf course the farmer is out
that much, and as a matter Of law he
will be compelled to stand by his
contract with the merchant, even II
he fails to consume the amount Of
goods and supplies stipulated for in
his contract. Have not such farmers
good cause to be exasperated, and
have they not right to talk to the
agent and request him to let their
hands alone?
The agents have been coming
among the co!ored people since last
DecAmnor and many farm hands have
left.
The Surplus in the Treasury.